News Release
The Council of Canadian Academies (CCA) Board of Directors announced today that Eric M. Meslin, President and CEO, will be stepping down from his role. Dr. Meslin has been instrumental in guiding the CCA and shaping its strategic vision for the past eight years.
“It has been a great honour to lead the CCA, and I am proud of the work we have accomplished,” said Dr. Meslin. “We increased the number and diversity of our assessments, broadened our visibility within the federal family, expanded our communications and knowledge mobilization activities, and began the important work of embedding EDI and Indigenous knowledges across our organization. None of this would have been possible without the dedication and expertise of our staff, expert panel members, Board, and Scientific Advisory Committee. I leave with immense respect and appreciation for everyone who has contributed to the CCA’s success.”
As the longest-serving president in CCA’s 19-year history, Dr. Meslin’s tenure at the CCA has been marked by a remarkable legacy of accomplishment and dedication to advancing evidence-based policy and decision-making. More than 40% of CCA’s total assessments were completed under his leadership—on topics from marine shipping to MAID, and climate change to AI. Dr. Meslin’s commitment to excellence, rigour, and transparency solidified the CCA’s reputation as a trusted source of information and positioned the CCA for continued growth and success in the years to come.
Dr. Meslin informed the Board of his plan to step down in September 2023, and will leave his role on December 31, 2023.
“Under Eric’s expert leadership, the CCA has advanced its mission and played a pivotal role in providing vital evidence to inform important policy decisions in Canada,” said Dr. Sue Molloy, Chair of the CCA Board of Directors. “We are grateful for his unwavering dedication and commitment to the CCA, and we wish him all the best in his future endeavours.”
The CCA has a plan to ensure continuity of operations and a smooth leadership transition. Dr. Tijs Creutzberg, who currently serves as director of assessments, will assume the role of interim president & CEO to oversee the organization’s daily operations and maintain its commitment to delivering impartial, evidence-based assessments to inform Canadian policy-makers. The Board of Directors has initiated a search for a new president and CEO to lead the CCA into the next chapter of its evolution.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Heather Ennis, Director of Communications
Heather.Ennis@cca-reports.ca
613-851-7723